The Americans are pushing for a direct dialogue between the Lebanese president and the Israeli prime minister. They claim that Lebanon stands at a crossroads and can get specific security guarantees.
On Thursday, the United States called for a direct meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Awn and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US Embassy in Beirut said Lebanon is at a crossroads and its people have a historic opportunity to reclaim their country. TASR informs about it according to the report of the DPA agency.
- The US called for a meeting between the leaders of Lebanon and Israel.
- The call came during a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah.
- The meeting can ensure Lebanon’s sovereignty and secure borders.
- Lebanon demands full respect for the ceasefire before the talks.
The call for a direct meeting of the countries’ leaders came amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which was extended until mid-May. In early March, Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the Middle East war by firing missiles at Israel, which responded with bombings and a ground invasion of the neighboring country.
Israeli and Lebanese officials have already met twice in Washington this month. In the past decades, these were the first direct talks between the two countries, which do not recognize each other. The result of these contacts was an agreement to start direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
The meeting will provide guarantees
A meeting between Awn and Netanyahu, which would be brokered by US President Donald Trump, would “provide an opportunity for Lebanon to obtain concrete guarantees regarding full sovereignty, territorial integrity, secure borders, humanitarian and reconstruction aid, as well as the full restoration of Lebanese state authority over the entire territory of the country – guaranteed by the United States,” the US Embassy in Beirut said on the X Network.
Lebanon’s president said this week that Israel must first fully comply with the ceasefire before direct negotiations can begin. He also said that Beirut is now waiting for the United States to set a date for the planned talks. Although the number of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah has significantly decreased during the truce, both sides continue to carry them out and accuse each other of violating it. Hezbollah also rejects direct talks with Israel, as well as Beirut’s previous commitment to disarm the movement.
“Lebanon stands at a crossroads. Its people have a historic opportunity to reclaim their land and shape their future as a truly sovereign and independent nation,” the US embassy added.
